CNBLUE: Of turning 30 and working with JJ Lin
The group got candid with us ahead of their concert here this Saturday
L-R: Lee Jung-shin, Lee Jong-hyun, Jung Yong-hwa, Kang Min-hyuk
Photos: FNC Entertainment
It’s been over a year since CNBLUE last performed on our sunny shores – their last show, 2016 CNBLUE LIVE [COME TOGETHER] IN SINGAPORE – was held last February, and it looks like the quartet has an even better show in store for fans this time around.
Kicking off their 2017 CNBLUE LIVE [BETWEEN US] tour in Singapore this Saturday, they will also play at locations in Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei. This comes after their similarly titled mini album, 7°CN, was released in March to share the group’s growth in the seven years since their debut.
Ahead of what is expected to be yet another successful tour, the band took time off their busy schedules to speak to Toggle via an email interview, where they shared seven nuggets of information that you probably never knew about.
Read on for more.
CNBLUE’s recipe to holding successful concerts
We don’t need sugar, spice and everything nice, because we have something better. CNBLUE shared that every concert is prepared with special care, and the set-list for their upcoming show was carefully selected to include songs that have never been performed here.
Them putting their best foot forward isn’t the entire story, however. The quartet shared, “We have great memories from our last concert in Singapore. We had a great time enjoying our concert with our passionate fans. The fans were so energetic which really made the whole concert experience enjoyable.”
“Most importantly, we’ll be working hard on trying to connect and communicate with our Singapore BOICE.”
Their favourite local food is an unsurprising choice
No surprise here, for this dish has been crowned the unofficial favourite food of all visiting Koreans; CNBLUE’s favourite local food is none other than chilli crab.
“We always love going to Singapore. There’s so many delicious food and great places to visit,” they chirped. “But most of all, our fans in Singapore are what makes us want to visit again. We’re very excited to meet our dynamic fans again for this concert!”
BOICE, you know what to do.
Being in the industry for over seven years will make anyone feel old
“Seven years, eight years… We don’t realise how many years it’s been until a lot of people mention exactly how long (we’ve been in showbiz). None of us have really changed since debut. One difference we feel though, is when we go to music programs and most of the other artists are younger than us,” they deadpanned.
One good thing has come out of their wealth of experience in the industry, however. CNBLUE mused, “We’re celebrating our 7th year anniversary, so we took inspiration from our past experiences and feelings and expressed it through our latest album, 7°CN.”
(Continued on next page: What do the members miss most about living together?)
Being noisy is what they miss the most about living together
Having moved out of their dorms, CNBLUE no longer live together like they did in the good ol’ days. As with anything, there are the positive and negative sides to such an arrangement, as the boys would be able to tell you.
They chuckled, “Living alone is quiet and we can spend our time freely but sometimes we do miss living altogether and being noisy.”
If they lived together, they might also be treated to leader Yonghwa’s culinary skills. He let on, “My character for ‘Cook Up A Storm’ was a Michelin Star chef and I got to film in China, Prague, Macao and many more locations. The experience was great and although I’m not that good, my interest for cooking really grew and I’m trying to improve.” (laughs)
CNBLUE has only one requirement for artistes that wish to collaborate with them
Yonghwa shared, “My collaboration with JJ Lin (for ‘Checkmate’) was great. If we get the chance to, we’d love to work on future collaborations with other Mandopop artists as well, especially those who share the same type of musicality as us.
Before that happens, however, he will be having a solo comeback, which might be his last before his mandatory army enlistment. “For this album, I’m preparing things that I’ve never shown before. This album will be different compared to my first solo album title track ‘One Fine Day’. Please look forward to it!” he declared.
WATCH: Snippets from CNBLUE's 2016 concert in Singapore!
The band welcomes turning 30 (although they might secretly be Peter Pan in disguise)
“Even though we’re nearing our 30s, we think we’ll always be young at heart. It’s always important to have the same mentality as when you first debut so even when we are in our 30’s we think that we’ll still be the same. We hope to keep making and share our music,” they shared.
Wise words indeed.
Last, but definitely not least, these are the words that CNBLUE have for you. (Yes, you)
“Thank you for always supporting and showing us your love. We think that it is because of our fans that we were able to stay together as a team for the past 7 years. Please continue to show your love and support for us!”
2017 CNBLUE LIVE [BETWEEN US] will be held on July 1 (Saturday), 7pm at ZEPP@BIGBOX SINGAPORE. Tickets are priced at S$288, S$228, S$168 and S$128 (excluding booking fees) and are now available on APACTix.
Related:
A night of LOVE with CNBLUE
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